The province of Iloilo recorded the highest inflation, or the rate of increase in the prices of consumer goods and services, in Western Visayas in the first month of the year.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-6), inflation in the province clocked in at 5.4 percent in January 2025, higher compared to 4.2 percent in December 2024.
Iloilo City posted the second-highest inflation at 5.1 percent (from 5.4 percent), followed by Bacolod City, 3.3 percent; Negros Occidental and Guimaras, 2.7 percent each; Capiz, 2.5 percent; and Aklan, 2.3 percent.
Overall, the region posted an inflation rate of 3.6 percent last month, higher than 3.4 percent in December 2025. The latest figure surpassed the national average of 2.9 percent.
Miguel Gallego, PSA-6 statistical specialist, cited the higher inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and restaurant and accommodation services as the primary reason for the uptrend in inflation.
Inflation for Food and non-alcoholic beverages climbed to 3.4 percent from 2.8 percent, mainly due to higher prices of cereal products, meat, vegetables, and tubers, among others.
Transport inflation rose from 1.8 percent to 2.2 percent, due to faster increases in the costs of fuel and lubricant.
Restaurant and accommodation services inflation increased to 6 percent from 5.6 percent, mainly driven by restaurants and cafés.
Inflation is computed based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the average price of the standard basket of goods and services consumed by a household: food products, electricity, gas, and clothing.IMT
